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French designer <a title="Matali Crasset Teams Up With Zimbabwean Weavers To Craft Organic Vessels With Drooping Udders" href="http://www.matalicrasset.com/" target="_blank">Matali Crasset</a> has traveled to Africa for a series of workshops that promote traditional <a title="Matali Crasset Teams Up With Zimbabwean Weavers To Craft Organic Vessels With Drooping Udders" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zimbabwe" target="_blank">Zimbabwean</a> weaving techniques. Working together with local women, they developed a series of irregularly shaped, bulbous containers made from local natural fibers. In addition to serving as decorative functional objects, the Gourd's Family provide employment for the locals while keeping a <a title="Matali Crasset Teams Up With Zimbabwean Weavers To Craft Organic Vessels With Drooping Udders" href="https://inhabitat.com/bizarre-cheese-maker-tower-makkink-bey-empowers-indian-women/" target="_blank">traditional craft</a> alive.

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Matali Crasset's Zimbabwe Gourd Baskets

Matali Crasset worked with 17 women and a master weaver for a week to create these containers during a workshop named Basket Case II.

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Matali Crasset's Zimbabwe Gourd Baskets

This was the second workshop that they completed with the aim of developing the emblematic gourd basket shape.

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Matali Crasset's Zimbabwe Gourd Baskets

The intricate biodegradable objects are made from closely-knit natural fibers and use Inqwanga for the structure, weaved with Ilala palm leaves.

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Matali Crasset's Zimbabwe Gourd Baskets

The Gourd's Family includes both functional and decorative items including a mirror, a basket and vases with several drooping udder-like compartments.

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Matali Crasset's Zimbabwe Gourd Baskets

"I love this object as it's inexact and you feel that one person gave their time and their consideration"

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Matali Crasset's Zimbabwe Gourd Baskets

The whole project was made possible thanks to a social scheme financed by the city of Bulawayo to help unemployed women learn a specific craft.

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Matali Crasset's Zimbabwe Gourd Baskets

French designer Matali Crasset has traveled to Africa for a series of workshops that promote traditional Zimbabwean weaving techniques. Working together with local women, they developed a series of irregularly shaped, bulbous containers made from local natural fibers. In addition to serving as decorative functional objects, the Gourd's Family provide employment for the locals while keeping a traditional craft alive.